Race the wind

If sailing appeals to you but you’re not keen on getting your feet wet, land sailing could be just what you’re looking for.

Victorian Blokart Association vice-president Tim Vance says the sport is perfect for families, young or old, able-bodied or wheelchair-bound, and the association is on the lookout for new members.

Tim, from Langwarrin, had been sailing Hobie catamarans for more than 25 years when illness forced him in 2010 to turn to land sailing.  He found the New Zealand-designed blokart – lightweight, manoeuvrable, perfect for urban areas – ideal, and with former Frankston resident Russ Whitehouse and Brian Campbell, of Mt Dandenong, they established the VBA.

“We have had family members come along and have such great times.  Parents find it amazing to sail alongside the children and have fun chasing one another.  The kids love beating mum or dad around the track, and both the parents’ and kids’ faces say it all.

“The blokart is also open to people who are wheelchair-bound, giving them the opportunity to sail a land yacht and race against able-bodied people on an even level.”

The blokart packs down into a suitcase-size bag and weighs less than 36kg fully rigged.  There are two classes: Production, which is straight out of the box, and Performance, which includes extras such as a carbon-fibre mast.  A Production-class blokart starts at $3900.

With the majority of its members living in the southeastern suburbs, the association has been keen to find land to establish a local track – but despite approaches to Frankston, Casey, Kingston and Mornington Peninsula Shire councils, it has been frustrated.  Finally it turned to the western suburbs, and Melton Council came to the party with the offer of a parcel of land at its MacPherson Park sports ground.  Now the VBA can concentrate on events such as the 2016 Victorian State Championships, which it will host at Melton, and growing its membership.  As Tim says: “The future of blokart is just taking off.”

If you’d like to give land sailing a go, the VBA has blokarts for hire at its Melton track.  Visit victorianblokartassociation.com.au  or facebook.com/groups/Victorian.Blokarts/